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MCP Resources: Give Your AI a File System

· 5 min read
Tony Lewis
MCPBundles

If you've used AI assistants, you've probably hit this frustration: you need to re-explain context every time you start a new conversation. That database schema you carefully described yesterday? Gone. The code snippet you asked about last week? You're pasting it in again.

MCP Resources solve this. They let you give your AI access to files and data that persist across conversations — like giving your assistant a file cabinet instead of asking them to memorize everything.

Resources vs Tools: What's the Difference?​

When people first encounter MCP Resources, the immediate question is: "How is this different from MCP Tools?"

The answer is simpler than you'd think:

Resources = You manually attach them
Tools = AI automatically calls them

Think of resources like email attachments. When you want your AI to reference a document, you attach it. The AI reads it and uses that information to answer your questions.

Tools, on the other hand, are actions your AI decides to take. When you ask "send this to my team," the AI automatically calls the email tool. You don't choose when tools get used — the AI does.

Why Both Matter​

Resources and tools work together. Here's a real example:

  1. You attach your database schema as a resource
  2. AI reads it and learns your table structure
  3. You ask "Get all users who signed up this week"
  4. AI automatically calls your database tool with the correct table names

The resource provided knowledge. The tool performed the action. Together they enabled smart, context-aware automation.

File Storage: Your AI's File System​

MCPBundles now includes cloud storage that your AI can use to save and manage files. Think of it as giving your AI its own hard drive.

What Your AI Can Do​

Save Files Anywhere

Your AI can store files you share or create during conversations:

  • "Save this screenshot for me"
  • "Download this research paper: [URL]"
  • "Store this code snippet in my utilities folder"

The AI organizes files, creates folders, and keeps everything accessible.

Find Files Fast

Your AI can search and browse your stored files:

  • "What files do I have saved?"
  • "Find all my reports from September"
  • "Show me code snippets about authentication"
  • "How much storage am I using?"

No more digging through folders or trying to remember exact filenames.

Share Files Easily

Your AI can generate temporary shareable links:

  • "Give me a link to share that screenshot"
  • "Create a download link for my report"

Links expire automatically (default: 1 hour) to keep your files secure.

Stay Organized

Your AI helps maintain your file storage:

  • "Rename these files to include today's date"
  • "Make a backup copy of my report"
  • "Delete old test files"
  • "Show me my largest files"

Real Workflows This Enables​

Screenshot-to-Link in Seconds

Before: Take screenshot → upload to image host → copy link → share
Now: "Save this screenshot and give me a link" → AI does everything

Research Library

Before: Download papers → organize in folders → remember where everything is
Now: "Download and save this paper" → AI organizes it → "Show me papers about X" → AI finds them

Code Snippet Collection

Before: Save to local files → search when needed → copy-paste
Now: "Save this function" → AI stores it → "Show me my auth code" → AI retrieves it

Batch File Organization

Before: Manually rename/move dozens of files
Now: "Rename all reports to include today's date" → AI handles everything

Storage Limits & Security​

What You Get​

  • 100MB per file
  • 10,000 files total
  • 10GB total storage

For most users, this is more than enough for code snippets, screenshots, documents, and small datasets.

How It's Secured​

  • Files are private to your account
  • Shareable links expire automatically
  • All operations require authentication
  • Stored in encrypted S3 buckets

Getting Started​

1. Enable a Bundle with Resources​

Resources are available through MCP bundles. Add any MCPBundles URL to your AI client.

2. Ask Your AI to Save Something​

"Save this code snippet to my utilities"

Your AI will store it and confirm where it went.

3. Retrieve It Later​

"Show me my utilities code"

Your AI searches and returns what you saved — even in a new conversation days later.

4. Attach Resources Manually​

In Claude Desktop or Cursor:

  • Click the "+" or "Add Context" button
  • Select resources from your storage
  • They appear as attachments your AI can reference

Why This Matters​

Without resources, AI conversations are stateless. Every interaction starts from zero. You re-explain context, re-share files, re-describe systems.

With resources, your AI accumulates knowledge. That database schema stays available. Those code patterns are always accessible. Your research library grows over time.

This fundamentally changes how you collaborate with AI. Instead of one-off questions, you build ongoing partnerships where your AI remembers what matters.

What's Next​

We're planning several enhancements to resources:

  • Larger file limits for enterprise users
  • Team sharing to collaborate on shared resources
  • Smart recommendations where AI suggests relevant resources based on your questions
  • Version control to track changes to files over time

Resources are still early, but they're already changing how people work with AI. Try it out and let us know what you build.

Ready to try MCP Resources?